Risk factors for Lyme disease resulting from residential exposure amidst emerging Ixodes scapularis populations: A neighbourhood-level analysis of Ottawa, Ontario

Author:

Logan, JJ, Sawada, M, Knudby, AJ, Ramsay, T, Blanford, JI, Ogden, NH, and Kulkarni, MA

Publication type:

Journal Article

Publication date:

2023-08

Journal/Series title:

PLoS One

Volume:

Issue:

URL:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0290463

Abstract:

Among Ottawa neighbourhoods, the combined effect of forest shape complexity and average forest patch size was associated with higher residential Lyme disease incidence (P<0.001). These findings suggest that Lyme disease risk in residential settings is associated with urban design elements. This is particularly relevant in urban centres where local ecological changes may impact the presence of emerging tick populations and how residents interact with tick habitat. Further research into the mechanistic underpinnings of these associations would be an asset to both urban development planning and public health management.